NO. 1 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN SWEEPS RANGERS IN THREE-GAME SET

LUBBOCK, Tex. – After winning 10 straight games, the Ranger baseball team was halted by the NAIA’s No. 1 team, Lubbock Christian (Tex.), over the weekend, as the Rangers were swept in a three-game series in Lubbock, Texas. The Rangers were outhit 39-12, with Lubbock defeating Northwestern 16-1 and 11-4 on Saturday, and 12-1 in the final game of the series on Sunday.

Chase Phelps (5-2) received his second loss of the season in the series opener, as he pitched two and two-thirds innings.

Lubbock Christian combined for 13 of its 16 runs in the third and fourth innings, while Northwestern’s only run came in the third inning.

The Rangers struck first in the second game of the doubleheader, scoring a solo run in the first inning on a Vincent Valdez single, but Lubbock countered and took a 9-2 lead through five innings. Both teams scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning to close the game out 11-4.

Andrew Ford started on the mound and threw four complete innings, allowing six earned runs, 10 hits and struck out three Chaps. Matt Stratton and Nathan Clover each pitched an inning of relief work.

In the single game on Sunday, Cameron Taylor (2-2) gave up five hits spread over five innings. The Rangers and Chaps were tied at 1-1, despite an unearned run by the Chaps in the bottom of the first inning, through four innings of play.

Lubbock Christian held the Rangers scoreless in every inning except the second, as they added two runs in the fifth, five runs in the sixth and four runs in the seventh.

Tom Huddleston led the Rangers offensively in the series, going 4-for-10 with four singles. Anthony Cros, Chris Williams and Valdez each had two hits, while Clint Dodds and Stephen Fellows had a hit each in the series.

Northwestern (21-13, 8-7) will next host Wayland Baptist in a three-game series on Friday, April 3. The Rangers and Pioneers will play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. at Ranger Field and will close out the series with a single nine-inning game at noon on Saturday.